UKZN strike suspended

University of KwaZulu-Natal students have suspended their strike after holding "positive" talks with the institution's management on Monday.

Students representative council president Thanduxolo Sabelo said that students had protested at the Howard College campus yesterday.

On Monday, students had barricaded the entrance to the at Edgewood College campus in Pinetown.

Sabelo said the SRC had held a "staggered strike", with the campuses holding protests on different days. However, the strike was suspended yesterday.

"We decided to suspend the strike because we met with the management and they seem to be agreeing with us and have put a plan of action in place to address our complaints."

However, the strike would resume if their demands were not dealt with by Friday.

Sabelo said the key problem was inadequate accommodation for students at UKZN residences.

"There were issues over accommodation at some campuses because they don't have proper facilities. About 200 students also applied for financial aid, but they have not received it. There were also complaints over the high prices of cafeteria food."

He said the bursaries available to students were inadequate.

UKZN spokeswoman Nomonde Mbadi confirmed last night that the management had been informed of the suspension of the strike.

Similar grievances led to violent protests by Durban University of Technology students last month, leading to the institution being shut for a few days.